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Created to Create™ Where Prayer, Scripture, and Creativity Meet

  • Writer: Ashley Ellis
    Ashley Ellis
  • 9 hours ago
  • 4 min read


Sometimes prayer looks like silence.Sometimes it looks like Scripture, song, or reflection.

And sometimes… prayer looks like paint on a canvas.

Over the past several years, something beautiful has begun to unfold through a ministry I now call the Created to Create™ Prayer Painting Series. What began as a small Lenten reflection in 2023 has slowly grown into a collection of prayerful experiences that invite people to encounter God through creativity.

At the heart of the series is a simple truth found in the opening chapters of Scripture:


“God created mankind in His image.”— Genesis 1:27

If God is the Creator, then creativity is not just an artistic activity—it is part of how we reflect Him.


Where the Series Began

The very first Created to Create gathering began during Lent in 2023. At the time, the idea was simple: What if participants could pray through the story of Lent while creating a painting together?


What happened that evening surprised me.


As people slowly painted and reflected on Scripture, the room became incredibly quiet. Conversations softened. Participants began sharing stories of faith, struggles, and moments where God had been present in their lives.

The painting became more than an art project. It became a space for prayer.

That experience planted the seed for what would eventually become the Created to Create series.


A Growing Collection of Prayer Experiences

Since that first Lenten gathering, the series has continued to grow each year.

New themes were added in 2024, and throughout 2025 and early 2026 additional prayer experiences were developed to reflect the rhythms of the Church year and the rich symbolism of Scripture.


Current themes include experiences such as:

• The Nativity• Our Lady of Guadalupe• The Symbols of Lent• The Alabaster Jar — A Fragrant Offering


Each painting experience centers around a moment from Scripture or the life of the Church, inviting participants to slow down and reflect on the deeper meaning of the story.

As participants paint step-by-step, Scripture passages are shared, reflection prompts are offered, and quiet moments of prayer are woven throughout the evening.

By the end of the experience, participants leave not only with a finished painting—but with a deeper reflection on the spiritual theme.


The Alabaster Jar: A Fragrant Offering

One of the newest reflections in the series centers on the powerful Gospel story of the woman who approaches Jesus with an alabaster jar of costly perfume.

Scripture tells us that she pours out the perfume in an act of devotion and love, filling the room with fragrance.


“The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” — John 12:3

In this prayer experience, participants paint the image of the alabaster jar tipped on its side, the oil flowing outward as a symbol of offering.

The reflection invites participants to consider a simple but profound question:


What in my life am I being invited to pour out in love for Christ?

The painting becomes a visual reminder that devotion often begins with a simple act of offering.


Creativity as Prayer

One of the most beautiful aspects of these gatherings is watching participants realize that art does not require perfection.

Many people arrive saying things like:

"I’m not an artist.""I haven’t painted since grade school."

But the goal of the evening is never artistic perfection.

The goal is prayerful reflection.

Brushstrokes become moments of contemplation.Colors become expressions of feeling.And the canvas becomes a quiet place where God meets us.


Serving Parish Communities

The Created to Create series has been shared with parish communities, ministry groups, and retreat gatherings since its beginning.

Because the experiences are rooted in Scripture and reflection, they have become a beautiful option for:

• women’s ministry gatherings• parish retreats• Advent and Lenten evenings• Bible study groups• youth ministry events• parish feast day celebrations

Many parishes also choose to host these events as fundraisers for parish ministries, helping support programs such as youth ministry, mission trips, or outreach initiatives.


Rooted in Faith, Welcoming to All Christians

While the series is rooted in Catholic theology and devotional tradition, reflecting my formation as a Lay Ecclesial Minister within the Diocese of Green Bay, the prayer experiences can also be adapted into ecumenical Christian gatherings.

The goal is always the same:

To create a welcoming space where participants can encounter Scripture, reflect on their faith, and experience the beauty of prayer through creativity.


Created in the Image of the Creator

At the end of every gathering, participants pause to look at their finished paintings.

Each one is slightly different.

Each one carries the marks of the person who created it.

And that moment becomes a quiet reminder of the truth that inspired the series from the beginning:

We are all created in the image of a creative God.

And sometimes the simplest act—like placing paint on a canvas—can become a prayer offered back to Him.


Interested in Hosting a Created to Create™ Experience?

Ashley works with parish leaders, ministry groups, and retreat coordinators to design prayerful experiences tailored to the needs of their community.

More themes are continually being developed throughout the liturgical year.

If you would like to learn more about hosting a Created to Create prayer painting experience for your parish or ministry group, please reach out through the contact page

or HERE


Created to Create™ Prayer Painting Series Founded by Ashley Ellis, 2023All rights reserved.


 
 
 

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